Brace for ladders



www f Filed sept. 9, 1933 "fil ...IIE- 4 i i improved folding side brace for Patented Juul-y 9, 1935 A amm-'113 Y, OFFIC i BRACIiroR'LIehRS Herman B'. Garters, Watervliet, N.l Y.V rlpnlioationV September 9, li Striel N91 ,Gle 2 Ciaims, v(Ol. 228-.-33) Y This,` invention relates to improvements -in braces, and more particularly has to do with an step ladders and like foldable constructions. i, i

An object of the invention is to provide` an improved folding brace vof the type vreferred to,: that will aiford a strong, rigid structure for maintaining the ladder sections in unfolded positioniand which can be easily operated withoutfdanger'fof injury to the hands.` l

A particularly important'novel characteristic of the invention resides in the special arrangement and connection of the brace bars or link members so that when the brace is in open or extended position the brace bars or link members not only lie in the same vertical plane but also are disposed in overlapping relation, bearing one against the other whereby a strong, rigid structure is provided. Y i

Another importantl novel feature of the invention lies in the special form of connecting member with the particular arrangement and connection cf the brace bars therewith, that provides a strong, eicient construction which can be easily operated without danger of injury to the hands.

The invention, with other objects and advantages thereof and the particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts comprising the same will be understood from the hereinafter contained detailed description when con-` sidered in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof and illustrating one embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing: v l Y Figure 1 is a side elevation of a step ladder of conventional form equipped with folding braces constructed in accordancewith the present invention; y j

Figure 2 is a horizontal section of one side of the ladder, on the line 2-2 of Figure l,V looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary View of the connecting member and end portions of the brace bars when the brace is in extended position;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure-3 when the brace has been'partially folded;

l Figure 5 is a vertical section on the line 5-5 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrow.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawing, it Will of course be understood that minor changes and modifications may be made in the particular construction shown and the invention embodied in other forms, as will appeal to those skilled in the art and falling within the scope of the appended @aims without departing from. th Spirit ofthe i Present invention ln the drawing,

, 'and ,2' designate ,the Vmoro- Sitely disposed hinged sections or a conventional.

type of, Step leidden; the sections l and 2 beine 5 adapted to be adjusted to open and closed positions, as'illustrated in full anddottd lines in Figurel of 4the drawing. The ladder is provided with Va brace at each side of the fhinged sections for maintaining the same in open position. Y

The particular exemplication of my improved brace illustrated in the drawing comprises a pair of bars or link members 3 and Il, and a connecting member 5. Each of the bars or link members t, 4 is in the form of a simple straight bar of iat metal of substantially uniform cross-section throughout. The connecting member 5 is of generaliU-shaped form in cross-section and substantially rectangular-shaped in side elevation, said member closely engaging and enclosing the inner end portions of the bars or link members as shown. The bars orlink members are pivotally connected through the member 5 to lie in the same vertical plane and are pivotally connected at their outer ends respectively with the ladder sections l and 2. The Vbar or link member 3 is rigidly securedto the member 5 between the sides thereof against the top wall by substantially spaced rivets t, the end of said bar or link member being shown as terminating slightly short of the end of the connecting member. The other bar or link member 4 is pivotally connected at one end to the member 5 within the same beneath the bar 3 by a pin 'I located beneath but at a point disaligned with, or relatively between, the rivets 6.

The bar or link member 4 is rounded at its upper end concentrically to its pivot 6, and the pivot is so located relatively to the bars or link members that when the brace is in open position and `the bars or link members extend parallel with each other, the end portions of the bars or link members are disposed in overlapping abutting relation, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawing, the bar or link member 3 affording an extended bearing for the bar or link member 4.

It will be noted that by the special construction and arrangement of parts hereinbefore set forth with the bars or link members disposed in the same vertical plane and also in overlapping abutting relation when the brace is in extended position, a particularly strong, rigid structure is provided for maintaining the ladder sections in open position, and the construction is such as to be easily operated without danger or injury to the hands.

What I claim is:

1. A folding brace of the class described comprising a pair of bars one located below the other to occupy substantially the same vertical plane, connecting means adapted to be engaged by the hand in forcing the bars into open or extended position, said connecting means comprising a U- shaped member with its closed edge located uppermost, and a pair of depending or skirt; portions adapted to closely receive and engage the adjacent end portions of thebars, means for xedly securing the end of one of the bars within the connecting member with its upper edge against the upper closed edge of the connecting member and with said end of the bar terminating within the plane of the outer end of the connecting member, including a pair of substantially spaced rivets passing through said end of the bar and the enveloping skirt portions, and a pivot connecting the underlying end of the other bar tothe lower skirt portions near the inner end thereof and conning said end therewithin when the bars are extended, said lower skirt portions being substantially co-,extensive in length with the upper portion lof the connecting member to provide a correspondingly elongated channel and engaging walls outwardly beyond the'pivot for the sides of the last mentioned bar when extended to reinforce the latter laterally and hold the same in position, the respective lower and upper edges of the adjoining ends of the bars having an elongated bearing afforded by their abutting relationship when the bars are open or extended with the lower bar bearing against the upper bar underneath the outer riveted connection of the latter with the connecting member.

2. A folding brace of the character described comprising a pair of bars having end portions overlapping each other to occupy substantially the same vertical plane, a connecting member for said bars including a pair of side members or depending portions engaged with the sides of the uppermost bar, substantially spaced rivets rigidly securing the end of said bar to the side members, said side members extending a substantial distance below said end of said bar to receive the adjacent end of the other bar in close tting engagement therebetween, and a pivot connecting the end of said last mentioned bar to the depending portions of the side members, said pivot being located in a position below but in a plane ben tween so as to be disaligned with theY separated rivets securing the upper portions of the members to the end of the uppermost bar, the respective lower and upper edges of the adjoining ends o f the bars having an elongated bearing afforded by their abutting relationship when the bars are open or extended.

HERMAN B. GAFFERS. 

